Summary Chapter 35: Pip returns to his old home to attend his sister's funeral. Before the funeral, he finds himself with an unability to picture the house without her, a sudden urge to get revenge on whoever had hurt her, and mixed feelings about her death. At the funeral, he meets up with Biddy, Joe, and Mr. Pumblechook again. Mr. Pumblechook pesters Pip, as usual, and Joe is preoccupied with mourning over his wife. Biddy and Pip converse, and Pip promises to visit more often, something she does not quite believe. Chapter 36: Soon after, Pip celebrates his twenty-first birthday with Herbert. Before this, Pip and Mr. Jaggers have a meeting, in which Pip learns that he gets five hundred pounds then, and is to start receiving an annual allowance of money. Pip tries to learn the identity of his benefactor, whom he still believes to be Miss Havisham. However, Jaggers is brief and cold, leaving Pip with no further clue as to who it really is. Before leaving, Pip stops by Wemmick's office to ask for some advice concerning helping Herbert out in the merchant business, in which Wemmick advises against. However, he says that 'in this office' he advises Pip not to, hinting to Pip that he should meet Wemmick at his house and the advice will change. Chapter 37: After receiving his income, Pip decides to spend it on helping Herbert get a job in the merchant business. Wemmick tells Pip that he is being 'devilishly good' to help Herbert out. Afterwards, Wemmick is able to search out a merchant, and proceeds to buy Herbert a partnership with him. Pip makes it so that his identity is anonymous, much like Pip's own benefactor. When Herbert learns of this news, he is bursting with joy and pride, which makes Pip feel triumpant.
What Happens to Pip - Pip has mixed feelings about his sisters death
- Pip promises Biddy that he will visit more often, though she is skeptical
- Pip turns twenty-one
- Pip learns that he is now going to receive an annual allowance
- Pip and Wemmick search out a merchant in need of a partnership for Herbert
- Pip feels proud of himself after seeing how happy Herbert is with his partnership New Characters
Miss Skiffins, Wemmick's girlfriend, is introduced in this chapter
Old Characters
Wemmick advises Pip against helping Herbert when he is at work; however, when he is at home, he supports Pip in this decision.
Biddy plans to become the mistress of a new school nearby, since she was first hired to take care of Mrs. Joe, who is now dead.
Literary Terms Irony - Pip chooses to keep his identity a secret from Herbert as his benefactor, when Pip himself does not know his own benefactor's name.
Stock Characters - Miss Skiffins can be classified as a typical housewife-like young women
1. Why do you think Pip chose to keep his identity as Herbert's benefactor a secret? Is this a good idea? 2. What are some possible reasons for Wemmick's strange behavior?
Summary
Chapter 35: Pip returns to his old home to attend his sister's funeral. Before the funeral, he finds himself with an unability to picture the house without her, a sudden urge to get revenge on whoever had hurt her, and mixed feelings about her death. At the funeral, he meets up with Biddy, Joe, and Mr. Pumblechook again. Mr. Pumblechook pesters Pip, as usual, and Joe is preoccupied with mourning over his wife. Biddy and Pip converse, and Pip promises to visit more often, something she does not quite believe.
Chapter 36: Soon after, Pip celebrates his twenty-first birthday with Herbert. Before this, Pip and Mr. Jaggers have a meeting, in which Pip learns that he gets five hundred pounds then, and is to start receiving an annual allowance of money. Pip tries to learn the identity of his benefactor, whom he still believes to be Miss Havisham. However, Jaggers is brief and cold, leaving Pip with no further clue as to who it really is. Before leaving, Pip stops by Wemmick's office to ask for some advice concerning helping Herbert out in the merchant business, in which Wemmick advises against. However, he says that 'in this office' he advises Pip not to, hinting to Pip that he should meet Wemmick at his house and the advice will change.
Chapter 37: After receiving his income, Pip decides to spend it on helping Herbert get a job in the merchant business. Wemmick tells Pip that he is being 'devilishly good' to help Herbert out. Afterwards, Wemmick is able to search out a merchant, and proceeds to buy Herbert a partnership with him. Pip makes it so that his identity is anonymous, much like Pip's own benefactor. When Herbert learns of this news, he is bursting with joy and pride, which makes Pip feel triumpant.
What Happens to Pip
- Pip has mixed feelings about his sisters death
- Pip promises Biddy that he will visit more often, though she is skeptical
- Pip turns twenty-one
- Pip learns that he is now going to receive an annual allowance
- Pip and Wemmick search out a merchant in need of a partnership for Herbert
- Pip feels proud of himself after seeing how happy Herbert is with his partnership
New Characters
Miss Skiffins, Wemmick's girlfriend, is introduced in this chapter
Old Characters
Wemmick advises Pip against helping Herbert when he is at work; however, when he is at home, he supports Pip in this decision.
Biddy plans to become the mistress of a new school nearby, since she was first hired to take care of Mrs. Joe, who is now dead.
Literary Terms
Irony - Pip chooses to keep his identity a secret from Herbert as his benefactor, when Pip himself does not know his own benefactor's name.
Stock Characters - Miss Skiffins can be classified as a typical housewife-like young women
Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think Pip chose to keep his identity as Herbert's benefactor a secret? Is this a good idea?
2. What are some possible reasons for Wemmick's strange behavior?